VOTE WITH KNOWLEDGE

I am writing this with the assumption that you are a registered voter. If you choose not to be a registered voter, then you have no right to complain about the state of our nation.

Voting is the way the people assert their power. Everyone has an opinion, and the way for you to make your opinion relevant is by casting your ballot at the polls. A lot of people feel that their vote doesn't count and no one will notice if they don't vote. This is not the case at all. Your vote does count and many elections have been lost because people feel that way. Elections have been lost by merely a few votes, which means that every vote does matter. With that being said, my real conversation here is the importance of being knowledgeable as to the facts when you do decide to cast your ballot. It is not good enough for you to just vote down your party line. You should be looking into the candidates views on the issues that matter to you, and vote for the individual candidate that fits your beliefs the most. In my area, the local newspapers usually prints a section on all the candidates and where they stand on the various issues a few weeks before an election. It is very easy to read and to follow so there is no reason to go to the polls without some knowledge of who you are voting for. When my children turned eighteen, I made them research the issues and vote according to their own beliefs, not what I believe. This was very enlightening to me because my children had very different beliefs than I did, but I was very proud of them for having an opinion and voting for the candidates they believed in. I was just glad they were involved and knowledgeable.

The news channels can be another source to get an idea about candidates and their views, but be careful with the news because most news channels are driven by politics so they tend to be slanted in one direction or the other. You will have to read between the lines and take what information you can from the information they give you. Always do your own research if in doubt. Don't just listen to what the news tell you.Also, be knowledgeable in your local elections. These elections are for your county commissioners, judges, sheriffs, etc. These elections are what will affect you the most. It always puzzles me as to why the voter turnout in local elections are so low when these elections affect you personally the most. For example, the judges that are elected in your local elections may affect you if you or a family member has to appear in court. Please don't skip voting when your local elections come around. It is so important to you personally and to your community to come out to vote for these elections.

To be able to vote is something to be proud of. So many people died for our right to vote. Let's honor their sacrifice by going to the polls with knowledge and power.